US20120160645A1 - Switch for vehicles - Google Patents

Switch for vehicles Download PDF

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Publication number
US20120160645A1
US20120160645A1 US13/379,774 US201013379774A US2012160645A1 US 20120160645 A1 US20120160645 A1 US 20120160645A1 US 201013379774 A US201013379774 A US 201013379774A US 2012160645 A1 US2012160645 A1 US 2012160645A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
actuation element
switch according
slider
switch
partly
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Abandoned
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US13/379,774
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English (en)
Inventor
Mauro Zorzetto
Alberto Barbano
Andrea Daffonchio
Costanzo Gadini
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Eltek SpA
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Eltek SpA
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Assigned to ELTEK S.P.A. reassignment ELTEK S.P.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: BARBANO, ALBERTO, DAFFONCHIO, ANDREA, GADINI, COSTANZO, ZORZETTO, MAURO
Publication of US20120160645A1 publication Critical patent/US20120160645A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/20—Driving mechanisms
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H13/00—Switches having rectilinearly-movable operating part or parts adapted for pushing or pulling in one direction only, e.g. push-button switch
    • H01H13/02—Details
    • H01H13/12—Movable parts; Contacts mounted thereon
    • H01H13/14—Operating parts, e.g. push-button
    • H01H13/18—Operating parts, e.g. push-button adapted for actuation at a limit or other predetermined position in the path of a body, the relative movement of switch and body being primarily for a purpose other than the actuation of the switch, e.g. door switch, limit switch, floor-levelling switch of a lift

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electric switch or contact for vehicles, such as a push-button, in particular of the type adapted to be actuated by the movement of a linkage or control element of the vehicle for signaling a status condition of the latter, e.g. a gear selector lever or a brake pedal.
  • switches normally comprise a slider partly protruding from a switch body and movable within a seat defined inside the switch body itself in order to open or close an electric contact between electric terminals also housed in the switch body.
  • the slider is generally a part of an actuation element which moves when the slider is subjected to an axial stress transmitted by the linkage whose status condition must be signaled.
  • the switch When the switch is used for signaling when a vehicle is put into reverse gear, it is typically installed inside the gearbox, and the slider is acted upon by the gear selector lever: when the latter is moved to the reverse position, the contact between the electric terminals is closed and the reverse lights are turned on.
  • the actuation element also comprises a diaphragm placed between the slider and the body portion that houses the electric contacts, so that the latter are protected from dust and dirt, which might otherwise get into the body and impair the contact quality.
  • this problem is tackled by using a metal coil spring (typically made of harmonic steel) associated with the slider, which absorbs any stresses possibly caused by the user forcing the linkage: in practice, the slider is divided into two coaxial parts, i.e. a first part moved by the linkage and a second part associated with the electric terminals; between the two parts there is a spring, so that, if the slider is forced, the first part will move relative to the other part, thereby avoiding any damage to the switch.
  • a metal coil spring typically made of harmonic steel
  • a further factor to be taken into account is that the switch production and assembly step is rather problematical, since the spring is normally slightly recompressed before being inserted between the two parts of the slider, in particular for the purpose of predefining the value of said calibration force.
  • the object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.
  • the switch has the features set out in the first claim.
  • An idea at the basis of the present invention is to provide a switch fitted with a movable actuation element, e.g. a sliding or linearly moving actuation element, capable of deforming at least partially, preferably being adapted to expand or deform at least partially in at least one transversal or radial direction relative to the moving or sliding direction; in particular, the actuation element is so shaped as to generate a deformation in at least one section thereof when subjected to a stress which would otherwise move it past the position corresponding to the closing of the contact between the electric terminals, thereby limiting the force discharged onto the latter by the actuation element.
  • a movable actuation element e.g. a sliding or linearly moving actuation element
  • Another idea at the basis of the present invention is to provide a switch fitted with an actuation element comprising at least one elastic or deformable element adapted to be moulded, such as a thermoplastic elastomer material, i.e. of the type suitable for being injected and/or formed in a mould.
  • an actuation element comprising at least one elastic or deformable element adapted to be moulded, such as a thermoplastic elastomer material, i.e. of the type suitable for being injected and/or formed in a mould.
  • a further idea at the basis of the present invention is to provide a switch fitted with a movable actuation element made as one piece, in particular of the type having an elastic or deformable element made in one piece with the actuation element.
  • Yet another idea at the basis of the present invention is to provide a switch fitted with a movable actuation element comprising at least one elastic or deformable element made of elastomer material.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 are two different exploded perspective views of the switch according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the switch of FIG. 1 in the assembled condition
  • FIGS. 4 , 5 and 6 are respective sectional views of the switch of FIG. 3 in different operating conditions
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of the switch of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIGS. 8 a, 8 b are sectional views along line D-D of FIG. 7 of a detail of the preceding switch in respective operating conditions;
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a first variant of the switch of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 10 shows a detail of FIG. 9 ;
  • FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a second variant of the switch of FIG. 3 ;
  • FIG. 12 shows a detail of FIG. 11 ;
  • FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a third variant of the switch according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 14 and 15 respectively show a longitudinal sectional view and an axonometric view of a fourth variant of the invention, with a part thereof removed;
  • FIG. 16 shows a detail of the switch of FIGS. 14 and 15 ;
  • FIG. 17 shows an alternative embodiment of a detail of the switch of FIG. 1-8 ;
  • FIG. 18 is a longitudinal sectional view of the detail of FIG. 17 when applied to the actuation element of the switch of FIG. 1-8 .
  • FIGS. 1 to 8 there is shown a first embodiment of the switch 1 according to the present invention.
  • This may be, for example, a switch for vehicles, in particular of the type adapted to be installed in a vehicle's gearbox or to be actuated by moving a vehicle's gear selector lever in order to turn on/off the reverse light.
  • a switch for vehicles in particular of the type adapted to be installed in a vehicle's gearbox or to be actuated by moving a vehicle's gear selector lever in order to turn on/off the reverse light.
  • it may be a switch adapted to control the vehicle's brake lights; in such a case it will be actuated by the brake pedal.
  • the switch 1 comprises a body 2 , consisting in this example of two half-bodies or half-shells 2 ′ and 2 ′′ assembleable together and housing two electric terminals 3 and 4 , which protrude into a mouth 5 for a connector, such as a plug or a socket (not shown), connected to the electric wires that carry the signal to a control unit of the vehicle or to an electromagnetic switch or directly to the lights.
  • a connector such as a plug or a socket (not shown)
  • the two electric terminals 3 and 4 are put in a condition of electric contact by the contact bridge 6 , when the latter is pushed downwards by a thrust element or pin 7 .
  • the latter is a central portion or core of a movable insert 70 , such as a rigid insert having a substantially bell-like shape, housed in the lower half-shell 2 ′′ of the switch body.
  • a movable insert 70 such as a rigid insert having a substantially bell-like shape
  • Said contact bridge 6 is preferably secured or hooked to said insert 70 or thrust pin 7 , while still being elastic or partially free to move; the thrust insert 70 is preferably so shaped as to create a positioning seat or mounting portion for one end of an elastic element or spring 11 , the other end of said spring 11 being housed in a positioning and/or mounting seat 19 of the half-shell 2 ′′.
  • the insert 70 has two diametrically opposed appendices 71 , 72 which protrude slightly to engage respective grooves 21 , 22 provided in a seat 23 formed within the lower half-shell 2 ′′: the grooves 21 , 22 , when engaged by the appendices 71 , 72 , guide the axial movement of the insert 70 , thereby ensuring a balanced action upon the contact bridge 6 ; in addition, the appendices 71 , 72 are used for coupling the insert 70 to the body 2 ′′, in particular for the purpose of facilitating the assembly and/or manipulation of a portion of the switch.
  • Said appendices 71 , 72 or other parts of the insert 70 may also be shaped in a manner such as to provide mechanical catches or end-of-travel stoppers, in particular for the purpose of limiting any excessive thrust on the contact bridge 6 .
  • the latter is preferably a metallic and/or elastic one, in particular in order to appropriately adapt its electric contact position to that of the respective electric terminals 3 and 4 .
  • the insert 70 with the thrust pin 7 is moved towards the electric terminals 3 and 4 by an actuation element 10 , which in this example comprises a diaphragm 8 associated with a linear slider 9 .
  • the slider 9 slides within the body 2 under a force exerted axially, e.g. when the gear selector or brake linkage is moved.
  • the slider 9 has a portion surrounded by a limiting cylinder 12 , the function of which will be explained later on.
  • the slider 9 has two opposite end portions: one free end portion 9 ′ and one end portion 9 ′′ associated with the diaphragm 8 .
  • the slider 9 is wholly made of elastomer, e.g. rubber or a thermoplastic and/or mouldable elastomer or the like, and is made in one piece with the diaphragm 8 , which is therefore made of the same material.
  • elastomer e.g. rubber or a thermoplastic and/or mouldable elastomer or the like
  • the main function of the diaphragm is to insulate from dust and dirt the inside of the half-shell 2 ′′ that houses the electric terminals 3 and 4 , while still allowing the transmission of motion from the slider 9 to the thrust pin 7 and vice versa.
  • the diaphragm 8 is located at the interface between the first and the second half-shells 2 ′ and 2 ′′ so as to insulate the latter, which houses the electric terminals 3 and 4 .
  • the diaphragm 8 is provided with a peripheral portion 80 similar to a sealing ring, e.g. shaped like an O-ring, which is used as a suitable sealing element to be compressed between the two half-shells 2 ′ and 2 ′′ during the assembly stage.
  • a sealing ring e.g. shaped like an O-ring
  • the half-shell 2 ′ which is preferably made of a metallic material, has an end portion 79 adapted to become deformed and provide a mechanical seal against the portion 78 of the body 2 ′′, which is preferably made of an insulating thermoplastic material, as shown in FIG. 4 .
  • FIG. 4 shows that it also comprises a central portion 9 ′′′ arranged between the two end portions 9 ′ and 9 ′′ previously mentioned.
  • the free end portion 9 ′ i.e. the one farthest from the electric terminals 3 and 4 projecting out of the half-shell 2 ′, has a slightly truncated-cone shape, i.e. it has an at least partly reduced diameter.
  • the switch 1 advantageously comprises rigid limiting means adapted to limit the transversal expansion of at least a portion of the slider 9 located at the slide guide or seat 20 .
  • such limiting means consist of a limiting cylinder 12 extending over the central portion 9 ′′′ (which has a constant diameter) and over at least a certain length of the free end portion 9 ′ of the slider 9 .
  • the slider 9 slides to and from the electric terminals within a slide guide 20 defined, in the illustrated example, by the walls of the body 2 ′; preferably, the slide guide 20 has dimensions and a shape corresponding or close to those of the slider 9 , so as to promote the sliding action thereof while reducing the infiltration of dust and dirt into the half-shell; in particular, it has the same shape as the central portion 9 ′′′ of the slider 9 , and its size is slightly bigger. It must be stressed that, advantageously, between the slider 9 and the slide guide 20 there is a lubricant, such as the gearbox lubricant, which promotes the relative sliding action thereof.
  • a lubricant such as the gearbox lubricant
  • the materials used for manufacturing at least some of the components of the device 1 are suitable for use in contact with such lubricants or oils.
  • the material of the actuation element 9 is silicone or thermoplastic rubber with hardness between 30 ShA (Shore A) and 100 ShA, preferably silicone with hardness between 50 ShA and 80 ShA or thermoplastic rubber with hardness between 50 ShA and 90 ShA.
  • FIGS. 4-6 show three operating conditions of the switch.
  • FIG. 4 it shows the switch in the idle condition: no stress is applied to the slider 9 , which is therefore in the idle position, with the return spring 11 fully extended and the slider 9 partly protruding from the shell 2 ; the thrust pin 7 is far from the electric contacts 3 and 4 , and therefore the metallic bridge 6 does not close the circuit.
  • the axial movement of the slider 9 causes it to slide within the slide guide 20 towards the terminals 3 and 4 .
  • FIG. 5 illustrates this situation when the displacement of the slider 9 is sufficient to have the bridge 6 abut against the electric terminals 3 and 4 .
  • the limiting cylinder 12 slides within the slide guide 20 to facilitate this operation and prevent the two parts from seizing or generating excessive friction: in fact, the limiting cylinder 12 is made of metal or hard plastic, and its coefficient of friction against the slide guide 20 is rather low, so that the relative movement between the two parts is not hindered.
  • the limiting cylinder 12 may be made of a metal among ferrous metals, steel, brass, copper, aluminium or alloys thereof, preferably a metal identified as AISI304; in particular a metallic material which can be easily machined in order to make said cylinder, which may be obtained by using a thin sheet appropriately wound and/or formed or moulded, or by means of extrusion or drawing processes.
  • the limiting cylinder 12 is made of a thermoplastic material, it is in particular preferable to use polyamide (PA) or polyparaphenylene sulphide (PPS), possibly charged or added with suitable reinforcement materials or fibres, such as fibreglass; preferably fibreglass-charged PA66.
  • PA polyamide
  • PPS polyparaphenylene sulphide
  • the limiting cylinder 12 also provides a further function: it prevents the slider 9 from becoming deformed in its central portion transversally to its sliding direction due to the stress applied to its free end 9 ′, thus allowing it to slide unhindered.
  • the slider 9 is made of elastomer, a force applied to its free end 9 ′ might deform it radially in the region thereof facing the slide guide 20 , thus preventing it from sliding smoothly.
  • the displacement of the slider equals the one required for closing the contact between the electric terminals 3 and 4 , the slider 9 will stay substantially undeformed, and in any case any small deformation will be absorbed or limited by the expansion chamber C without hindering the movement.
  • FIG. 6 shows a situation in which the linkage associated with the slider 9 stresses the latter further towards the terminals 3 and 4 when the electric contact between the two has already been established.
  • the function of the compensation device is performed primarily by the elastomer portion of the slider 9 which is not confined by the limiting cylinder 12 : in fact, when the bridge 6 is abutted against the electric terminals 3 and 4 , i.e. when the insert 70 is resting on the body or half-shell 2 ′′, the slider 9 is not allowed to translate any further in that direction in order to avoid damaging the switch 1 .
  • the portion 9 ′ and/or that part of the portion 9 ′′′ that faces the expansion chamber C will expand radially, thereby absorbing the stress applied to the slider 9 , which will become shorter and expand transversally to the sliding direction, as clearly shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the deformation which in the latter occurs in the form of outward radial expansion, i.e. toward the walls of the guide 20 , may also take place in a different way.
  • a movable element such as a slider, having partially hollow elastomeric parts which can inflect at least partially inwards when subjected to an axial stress.
  • the elastomer in use is of the type commonly called “foam”, wherein cavities (such as air bubbles) are incorporated into the elastomer matrix: in this case, at least a part of the deformation may be absorbed by the cavities, thus reducing or limiting the radial expansion.
  • the resulting deformation of the slider 9 allows to absorb the effect of any excessive or wrong manoeuvres made by the user, with the advantage that an extremely cheap switch can be produced in which there is no metal-spring compensation device and the slider 9 is preferably monolithic, leading to easier steps of assembling and reducing the components of the switch 1 .
  • At least a portion of the slider 9 or of the actuation element 10 comprises at least a portion having a prismatic or cylindrical shape wholly made of elastic deformable material, i.e. a material capable of returning to its original shape after having being stressed, such as an elastomer; alternatively, cavities may also be provided within said prismatic or cylindrical portions.
  • the shape and the material of the slider 9 or of the actuation element 10 is such that they will not deform under an axial thrust of a first force F 1 , while deforming at least partly under an axial thrust of a second force F 2 .
  • Said first force F 1 being however adapted to move said slider 9 or actuation element 10 of the switch 1 .
  • the limiting cylinder 12 may be coupled to the slider 9 integral therewith by simply forcing the latter into the former, thus simplifying the assembly stage; it is however possible to conceive different coupling steps, e.g. by glueing or welding or engaging or moulding the material of the slider 9 onto the cylinder 12 .
  • the limiting cylinder 12 may advantageously have such a profile that prevents any damage to the slider 9 and/or to the diaphragm 8 , e.g. a profile rounded at least at its end, as will be described more in detail below.
  • expansion chamber C is optional, in that the above-described functions may alternatively be provided by sizing the parts appropriately.
  • the number of electric terminals may be different, e.g. there may be three, four or more terminals put in a condition of electric contact by the bridge 6 , which in turn may have different shapes, just like the thrust pin 7 , which may have any geometry or even be missing (being replaced, for example, by a suitable profile integral with the diaphragm).
  • FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a switch 1 A wherein the same reference numerals, followed by the letter “A”, designate components equivalent to the corresponding components of the above-described switch 1 .
  • the actuation element 10 A comprises, as a movable element, the slider 9 A, which features rigid limiting means consisting of the rigid radial ribs 12 A.
  • the limiting means 12 A are made of a thermoplastic material, it is in particular preferable to use polyamide (PA) or polyparaphenylene sulphide (PPS), possibly charged or added with suitable reinforcement materials or fibres, such as fibreglass; preferably fibreglass-charged PA66.
  • PA polyamide
  • PPS polyparaphenylene sulphide
  • the limiting means 12 A are made of a metallic material
  • the latter is preferably a metallic material which can be easily machined or moulded into complex shapes, e.g. by die casting or sintering or drawing or hot pressing, such as a metal among ferrous materials, steel, brass, copper, aluminium or alloys thereof.
  • the rigid radial ribs 12 A extend at least over the central portion 9 A′′′ of the slider 9 A and protrude outwards from the elastomer material making up the latter: the slide guide 20 A within the body 2 A is sized in a manner such that the radial ribs 12 A are internally tangential to the slide guide along lines parallel to the sliding direction of the slider 9 A when the latter is moving.
  • the aforementioned expansion chamber C is generated within the space between two adjacent ribs 12 A and the slide guide 20 A obtained in the body, with substantially the same effects: as long as the slider 9 A is translating, any deformation thereof in a direction transversal to the direction of motion is absorbed by said expansion chamber without hindering the motion.
  • any additional stress towards the electric terminals 3 A and 4 A causes a deformation, in a direction substantially transversal to the direction of motion, of the free portion 9 A′ which does not include the ribs 12 A, with the same advantageous effects already described.
  • At least one radial rib 12 A extends substantially to the centre or axis of the slider 9 A, thus creating a rigid core or internal reinforcement that counters the compression of the elastomer of the portion 9 A′′′.
  • the elastomer portion 9 A′′′ although not confined in its perimetric portion near the guide 20 A, is not subject to particular deformation stresses, resulting in smaller dimensional variations in the radial direction.
  • the end portion 9 A′ preferably lacks said reinforcement core, so as to be able to deform and compensate for any excessive thrusts.
  • Said rigid limiting means with the radial ribs 12 A may, as an alternative, be shaped as a “solid” cylindrical element provided with internal axial passages used for placing the elastomer materials moulded at the two axial ends in communication with each other, thus making the elastomer integral with the rigid body; the internal passages also allow the material to be injected from one axial end only, i.e. from one side of the mould, and then flow to the opposite end of the part.
  • a rigid limiting element 12 A may include perimetric reliefs, or may comprise a perimetric or tubular rigid element, connected to a rigid central core through rigid radial elements, while still featuring axial passages 9 A′′′ placing the two axial ends in communication with each other; said passages 9 A′′′ being in particular adapted to be filled with an elastomer material during a step of overmoulding said rigid element 12 A, for the purpose of connecting, through elastomer, the two ends 9 A′ and 9 A′′ made of elastomer, i.e. for the purpose of creating a single overmoulded elastomeric part provided with elements 9 A′′′ for securing it to the rigid limiting element 12 A.
  • FIGS. 11 and 12 A second variant is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , wherein the same reference numerals, followed by the letter “B”, designate components equivalent to those of the above-described switch 1 .
  • the actuation element 10 B comprises, as a movable element, the partially elastomeric slider 9 B, which features a first elastomeric portion 9 B′ and a second portion 9 B′′ made of a rigid material (such as metal or hard plastic).
  • the diaphragm 8 B is not in one piece with the slider 9 B, being manufactured separately and then mounted thereon; it may however be overmoulded.
  • the second rigid portion 9 B′′ of the slider 9 B has dimensions substantially close to those of the slide guide 20 B obtained in the body, whereas the first elastomeric portion 9 B′ has significantly smaller dimensions; the expansion chamber C is thus formed between these two components.
  • any deformation thereof in a direction transversal to the direction of motion is absorbed by the distance between it and the walls of the housing seat, or because a large portion thereof is located outside the switch, so that its motion is not hindered.
  • any additional axial stress causes a deformation in a direction substantially transversal to the direction of motion of the elastomeric portion 9 B′, resulting in the same advantageous effects described above.
  • the movable slider may be adapted to move not only linearly, but also angularly, e.g. it may be a rotary element.
  • the actuation element may be configured as an angular lever at least partly made of elastomer: in such a case, it would be conceivable to provide an L-shaped lever moving rigidly until the electric terminals are closed, and then deforming or bending as the stress persists.
  • actuation element of the type comprising a linear or angular slider
  • actuation element in which, instead of the portion made of elastomeric material, there is a deformable region, e.g. made of a thermoplastic material relatively rigid when thick and elastic when thin or appropriately shaped.
  • the slider 9 may, for example, be wholly made of a rigid material, e.g. PA66 (nylon), and include an end portion 9 ′ which is thinner and/or so shaped as to be at least partly deformable.
  • a rigid material e.g. PA66 (nylon)
  • the deformation may develop in different directions, as previously discussed.
  • the switch spring may be omitted, i.e. replaced by the elasticity of the actuation element itself, which may be suitably shaped for this purpose.
  • the actuation element 10 C has one end 100 C jutting out from the side of the diaphragm 8 C and passing through the insert 70 C: differently from the previous examples, the latter is open at the top and lacks the central pin ( 7 in FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
  • an actuation element 9 C shaped in a different manner and/or by another part; for example, by an actuation element with a jutting end 100 C having a different shape, such as a perimetric jutting end external to the insert 70 C (not shown); as an alternative, the diaphragm 8 C itself may be shaped appropriately to provide the elasticity necessary for returning the movable contact bridge 6 to its initial position.
  • the end 100 C then extends past the insert 70 C along the central axis of the switch, down to the lower half-shell 2 C′′: it is therefore so shaped as to provide the elastic means for resetting the electric contact, as a substitute for the spring 11 of the preceding examples.
  • the end 100 C is at least partly made of elastomer material; in addition, according to a preferred embodiment the end 100 C is made in one piece with the diaphragm 8 C and the slider 9 C by moulding the elastomer material.
  • the elastomer material may be overmoulded together with the insert 70 C: this avoids the necessity of assembling separate parts consisting of the actuation element 10 C and the insert 70 C; alternatively, the insert 70 C may be mounted onto the actuation element 10 C.
  • end 100 C may nonetheless be obtained separately from the rest of the actuation element 10 C; for example, said end 100 C may be manufactured by using a different elastomer independent of that of the slider 9 C or diaphragm 8 C, and associated with or mounted or overmoulded onto the insert 70 C.
  • FIGS. 14 , 15 and 16 An example of these possible combinations is shown in FIGS. 14 , 15 and 16 , wherein the same reference numerals designate, followed by the letter “D”, components equivalent to those of the above-described switch.
  • this variant is obtained by combining some features of the actuation element of the variant of FIGS. 9 and 10 with other features of the same element in accordance with the variants of FIGS. 13 and 14 : therefore, for clarity, the above statements will apply as regards the features common to the examples shown in such figures, and vice versa the following description will apply to and complete the previous explanations.
  • FIGS. 15 and 16 may be used as a complement to FIGS. 9 , 10 , 13 and 14 , and vice versa.
  • the actuation element 10 D that comprises the slider 9 D features means for limiting the deformation of the latter, such means consisting of the rigid radial ribs 12 D, i.e. a rigid element 12 D co-moulded with and/or at least partly mounted internally to the elastomer element 10 D.
  • said rigid element or ribs 12 D are made of thermoplastic material, it is preferable to use polyamide (PA) or polyparaphenylene sulphide (PPS), possibly charged with suitable reinforcement materials or fibres, such as fibreglass or the like; among these, it is most preferable to use PA66.
  • PA polyamide
  • PPS polyparaphenylene sulphide
  • the limiting means may be made of metal or metal alloys; in such a case, it is preferable to use a metallic material which can be easily worked or moulded into complex shapes, e.g. by die casting, sintering, drawing or hot pressing.
  • the actuation element similarly to the previous one, has one end 100 D which protrudes from the diaphragm 8 D and extends towards the lower half-shell 2 D′′.
  • the end 100 D then extends past the insert 70 D along the central axis of the switch, down to the lower half-shell 2 D′′: it is therefore so shaped as to provide the elastic means for resetting the electric contact, as a substitute for the spring 11 of the example of FIG. 1 .
  • the end 100 D is at least partly made of elastomer material; in addition, according to a preferred embodiment the end 100 D is made in one piece with the diaphragm 8 D and the slider 9 D by moulding the elastomer material.
  • the latter may be overmoulded together with the insert 70 D: this avoids the necessity of assembling separate parts consisting of the actuation element 10 D and the insert 70 D.
  • end 100 D may nonetheless be obtained separately from the rest of the actuation element 10 D; for example, said end 100 D may be manufactured by using a different elastomer independent of that of the slider 9 D or diaphragm 8 D, and associated with or mounted or overmoulded onto the insert 70 D.
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 This improvement is shown in detail in FIGS. 17 and 18 , wherein the former only illustrates the limiting cylinder 120 , which in this case is provided with a circular-crown base 121 that rests on the diaphragm 8 when the cylinder 120 is applied onto the slider 9 , as shown in FIG. 18 .
  • This solution offers the advantage that it prevents the diaphragm 8 from suffering any damage caused by the cylinder 120 , since the base 121 is a support surface which has no edges that may cut the elastomer of the diaphragm.
  • the limiting cylinder 120 is obtained from a metal sheet bent and shaped by matching the ends thereof, which define a junction line 123 along a generatrix of the cylinder and the base 121 .
  • Said junction line 123 may advantageously be gapped, thus providing, together with the grooves 124 , 125 and 126 on the outer surface of the cylinder 120 and of the base 121 , passages for the lubricant (typically oil) present between the cylinder 120 and the upper half-shell 2 ′ of the switch body (referring to the designations used in the first example of FIGS. 1-8 ).
  • the lubricant typically oil
  • junction line 123 and/or the grooves 124 - 126 allow the liquid lubricant to flow out, thus preventing the formation of harmful accumulations.
  • said elastomer material typically adheres to the rigid material over which it is moulded, i.e. the cross-like ribs 12 A (or 12 D), even in the worst case of radial deformation of the compressed elastomer such deformation will only occur in the central portion of the region between two ribs, not in the region near the ribs, since the elastomer is attached thereto and cannot expand radially, thus leaving some axial passages.

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US13/379,774 2009-07-07 2010-07-05 Switch for vehicles Abandoned US20120160645A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO2009A000508 2009-07-07
ITTO2009A000508A IT1398690B1 (it) 2009-07-07 2009-07-07 Interruttore per veicoli
PCT/IB2010/053082 WO2011004318A1 (en) 2009-07-07 2010-07-05 Switch for vehicles

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US20120160645A1 true US20120160645A1 (en) 2012-06-28

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